What is bridge?

on February 3, 2025

Bridge is a very simple game to understand: it’s a four-player battle!

Bridge is played two against two with a deck of 52 cards, with partners facing each other around a table.

First, we lead the bidding phase, which determines whether the game will be played with a trump or not, and a minimum number of tricks to be taken by one side, except that we commit to taking a minimum number of tricks and not points.
Then, the game is played clockwise and the highest card of the four wins, in each trick.
In trumps, no one is obliged to cut or raise. At the end, we check if the minimum number of tricks has been taken by the two partners who committed to it. If yes, it is won, if not, it is lost…

Honestly, we’ve made a more complicated game, haven’t we?

But what is the point of this game compared to others?

First, during the auction, partial information is given on the games of the four players who communicate in a coded manner: worthy of a good role-playing game or video game scenario!
Then, one of the two partners who have committed to taking a minimum number of tricks will spread all of his cards on the table: he is said to be “the dead player”. It is his colleague who will tell him which card to play at each trick, so that it is possible for him and for the opponents to establish an even more precise playing strategy.
Finally, not having to cut or raise gives much more freedom, and therefore more fun, than in other card games.